Gary Casino Foes Betting On Legislature

Anti-gambling forces in Gary said Sunday they will carry their fight against allowing casinos in their city to the Indiana legislature, despite a weekend vote by Gary residents endorsing them.

``We`ll tackle this issue at the state level,`` said Rev. William Booth, pastor of Gary`s First Baptist Church. ``This is not a mandate with muscle.`` A total of 22,042 registered Gary voters went to the polls Saturday, with 13,309 voting for and 8,733 against casino gambling. The number represented 32.3 percent of Gary`s 68,000 registered voters.

Saturday`s endorsement of casino gambling was only an advisory referendum and in no way binds any of Indiana`s 150 legislators to pass future gaming laws for Gary.

But with the vote, Gary became only the second community outside Nevada where voters have approved casinos. Thirteen years ago, New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow casino resorts in Atlantic City. While casino supporters were still celebrating their victory, Gov. Evan Bayh was saying that the turnout was too low to convince him that most of Gary`s residents want casinos.

Rev. Booth, who led a coalition of clergymen against gambling, said he was encouraged by Bayh`s stand.

``But we will continue to urge him that a substantial number of voters are not in favor of casino gambling,`` Rev. Booth said.

Gary Mayor Thomas Barnes took exception to critics and downplayed the low turnout.

``I think it was a good turnout,`` Barnes said. ``Considering that we had one issue and no candidates on the ballot, new voting machines and the city`s polling places were consolidated. Something like this has never been done before.``

He said that under the circumstances, there was no way to compare Saturday`s election turnout with any past elections in the city.

Barnes also contended that Gary residents made the necessary statement for the legislature to take further action.

``I said before the election that even if we got 51 percent of the vote it would be enough,`` Barnes added. ``But 60.4 percent is even better.``

Barnes called the vote ``the most significant venture since Gary was founded 83 years ago.``

The city was once a thriving center for steel production, but has lost more than 50,000 people in the last 10 years and now has an unemployment rate of 13 percent. Its current population is 136,000.

Rev. Booth said he will be calling upon clergymen from throughout Indiana to marshal anti-gambling efforts in the General Assembly when it convenes in Indianapolis in January.

``We believe once the legislators take a closer look at the vote, plus the administration of the election, they will not approve gambling for Gary,`` Rev. Booth said.

However, Rev. Booth and his followers will face strong opposition in the legislature from Rep. Earline Rogers (D., Gary), who has been the major leader of the casino drive in the General Assembly.

Rogers also cochaired a special legislative study panel which last week recommended casino gambling for the economically struggling city. She said she will introduce a comprehensive gaming bill in January, and foresees legislative approval by early next spring.

``We could be breaking ground for the first casinos by next summer,`` she said.

Under the city`s plan, four or five casinos would be built on a still undetermined site along the Lake Michigan shoreline. All would be on remote and unused industrial land, and removed from any residential or business areas.